Skiers&#39; tow seat



Nov. 12, 1963 l. .1. ALLsoP SKIERS TOW SEAT Filed July 9, 1962 l WWA/1% 6 I l /A/VE/vroR, /vor J A//sop by 7:57/ ATTORNEY nite Stats 3,31 l 1,2% Patented Nov. l2, i963 3,116,268 SKIERS TOW SEAT Ivor I. Ailsop, Box 23, Bellingham, Wash. Filed lnly 9, 1962, Ser. No. 208,324 3 Claims. (Cl. 104-173) This invention relates to a tow seat, and more particularly to a tow seat for use in pulling skiers easily and safetly and conveniently up a hill using an ordinary rope 1OW.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tow seat which is constructed so that it will free itself from the rope as soon as pressure is released from the seat end, the tow seat of the present invention including a cable which has a kink therein which provides a springlike action to kick the grip off the rope when backward pressure on the tow seat is released.

A further object is to provide a tow seat of the type stated which will permit a ski tow to be used with increased safety, and wherein one form of the tow seat is adapted to include a rigid shaft while a Idifferent form has a flexible shaft instead of the rigid shaft.

Still another object is to provide such a tow seat that is economical to manufacture and efcient in operation and which is rugged in structure and yfoolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIG. l is an elevational View illustrating the tow seat of the present invention.

IFIG. 2 is a view illustrating the hook member or grip per se.

FIG. 3 is a view looking at the opposite side of the hook member from that shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the gripping of the tow rope by the hook member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a modified tow seat.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the tow seat of the present invention which is shown to comprise a seat member that is indicated generally by the numeral 111, and the seat member 11 includes coplanar end portions "12 as well as an intermediate o'set portion 13. The numeral 14 indicates a tubular rigid shaft which is connected to the intermediate portion 13 of the seat member 11, and caps 15 and 16 are suitably connected to the end portions of the shaft '14'. The numeral 17 indicates a securing element which is arranged as shown in FIG. l.

As shown in the drawings, a cable 18 extends from the shaft 14, and a portion of the cable 18 may extend through a suitable small opening or aperture 19 in the cap 16, as shown in FIG. 6, and a clip 20 may be provided for maintaininU or retaining the cable 18 in its proper connected position relative to the shaft '14.

'Ihe cable 18 has a kink 21 therein for a purpose to be later described. As shown in the drawings, a hook member 22 is suitably aiiixed to an end of the cable 11S, and the hook member 22 is shaped to include a main body portion 23 which has a generally rounded surface, and the main body portion 23 also has an elongated recessed area 24 which helps reduce the weight of the hook memher, FIG. 3. An end of the portion 23 is slightly enlarged as at 25, and the enlargement 25 terminates in a curved lug portion or nger portion 26, and `as shown in the drawings the lug portion 2e is slightly offset from the main body portion 23 whereby the lug portion 26 is arranged angularly with respect to the main body portion. As shown in FIG. 4, when the device is being used, the tow rope 28 is adapted to be engaged or gripped between the lug portion 25 and a shoulder 27 on the hook mem- Iber 22.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 7 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated a modified tow seat which is indicated generally by the numeral 10', and the tow seat 10 has a construction which is somewhat similar to the previously described tow seat 10. However the tow seat 10 includes a shaft y14 which is of flexible or yieldable material instead of the rigid shaft 14 shown in FIG. l. Also in FIG. 7 the numeral -29 indicates the connection between the seat member 11 and the shaft 14'.

As shown in PIG. 7 a suitable retainer 30 is adapted to be aflixed to an end `of the seat member .11 as at 31, and the retainer 30 includes a loop portion 32 which is adapted to selectively receive or be engaged by the lug portion 26 of the hook member 22 for a purpose to be later described.

In FIGS. 3 and 5 the numeral 33 indicates a clip or fastener which is suitably aiXed Within the recessed portion 24, and the clip 33 provides a means for afxing or connecting the hook member 22 to the cable 18.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a tow seat for use by skiers, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, when 4the tow seat of the present invention is being used, the shaft 14 is adapted to be arranged between the legs of the skier, and the member 11 is adapted to tbe positioned rearwardly of the buttocks, so that with the rope 28 actuated in the usual manner, and with the hook member 22 engaging the rope 28 -as `shown in FIG. 4, the skier can be conveniently and safely pulled up a hill by means of the ordina-ry rope tow 28. I

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The present invention is adapted to ibe used for pulling skiers up a hill by means of an ordinary rope tow 'with very little effort and with a higher degree of safety than is possible with other methods or means. The present invention includes the clamp or hook member 22 which binds on the rope 28 when backward pressure is applied to the extended handle. The flexible line or rope or cable 18 is attached to the end of the shaft or handle '14 or 14', and the cable 18 is connected to the handle portion 23 of the clamp 22 as at 33. The seat member 11 is arranged and attached so that the shaft A14 or 14' can be conveniently placed between the skiers legs whereby the skier can sit on the seat member and ride effortlessly to the top of the tow. The clamp or member 22 is constructed so that when backward pressure `on the handle portion 23 is released, the clamp 2.2 falls off the tow rope 28 due to the provision of the `kink 21 in the cable 18.

With further reference to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. l through 6, the shaft f14 is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as aluminum, and the device of FIGS. l through 6 is of a type that is adapted to be sold to area operators and it is intended that it will be the responsibility of the tow operator to .get the tow sea-t back to the bottom of the hill. With reference to the device 10 shown in FIG. 7, there is provided the flexible hose or shaft 14' which may be made of a suitable material such as rubber or plastic and the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7 is of the type that is adapted to be used and sold to the individual skier, and the lexible shaft 14 is provided so that the device can lbe wrapped around the waist like a belt While not in use, and, for example, the loop portion 32 is adapted to receive an end of the member 22 so as to permit convenient wrapand the hook `drops off the rope.

ping of the device around the waist when the device is not being used and this is illustrated in FG. 7.

It is to be noted that in both forms of the invention, a kink 21 is arranged in the cable A1S so that it acts like a spring and kicks the grip off the rope when backward pressure is released, and wherein the hook member will move from a position substantially parallel to the tow rope 28, to a position substantially at right angles to the tow rope 2S, when the hook member comes `off of the tow rope at the top of a hill.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hook member 22 is adapted to rmly grip or engage the rope 23 in order to prevent slippage on the rope.

The element 17 shown in FG. l can be used for suspending the device l@ `from a suitable structure or support member as, ttor example, when the device le is not being used.

-lt will be seen that according to the present invention there has been provided a tow seat which includes the tow `grip attached to a seat for pulling skiers etortlessly and safely up a hill on an ordinary rope tow such as the rope tow 2S, and the present invention is constructed so that it will free itse from the rope as soon as press-ure is released from the seat end.

in use, the skier will take a tow seat from a rack at the bottom of the hill and deposit is at the top of the hill on specially designed racks which can be skied down to the bottom with approximately 1001 tow seats at a time, and in some instances it may be desirable to send them down by means of a tight line. The reason for this method of distribution is that if all skiers have them available, it will not be necessary to operate a tow at high speedsince the saine productivity can be gained from the tow by gearing it down and putting the skiers on closer together as desired or required.

'The tow seat of the present invention will make a ski tow safer for a number of reasons such as the fol lowing. The skier will be traveling at a lower thanusual speed, the skier will not be directly attached to the rope and will be less 4likely to get clothing and the like entangled in the rope, kand the skier is not attached to the rope as he or she would normally be with a conventional tow ygrip and in case of an accident such as a fall, the seat merely slips from between the skiers legs Also, all ordinary safety measures such as a safety gate will have a better chance to operate because the rope will not travel as far due to the reduced momentum. Also, the upruns can be maintained better due to the reduced speed of Ythe skier, and there will be less chance for burns due to the reduced speed and because a s-mooth slick rope such as a multi-iila-ment rope will be ideal whereas with ordinary tow systems a coarse rope with good adhesion is essential.

In addition, the present invention has certain other important advantages or features to the operator using the tow seat such as the following. There lwill be a saving on rope because it cuts out the excessive abrasion that goes with high speed, and there will be a saving on wheel bearings, pulleys and maintenance due to the reduced speed. Also skiingrwill lbe made more enjoyable, that is skiing by rope will be made more convenient and pleasant, and there will be an increase in the number of rope tow users due to the increased safety and convenience. An important feature is the economy which will result from tde use thereof. Also the tow seat of the present invention will save wear and tear on gloves, trousers, parkm, sweaters and the like and will thereby permit the operator to derive increased bene- -its such as -iinancial sav-ings, and such financial savings will be benecial to the skiers as well as the operators.

Minor :changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the iield of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A skiers tow seat for use with an overhead tow rope, said tow seat consisting solely of a seat member, a sha-it `connected to the intermediate portion of said seat member, and said shaft adapted to be extended between the iegs of the user, a cable extending from said yshaft and connected thereto, said cable having a permanent kink therein, a hook member connected to said cable for selectively engaging the tow rope, and wherein the hook member is not permanently attached to the tow rope, the kink in the cable causing the hook mem- Iber to rotate and move from a posit-ion substantially parallel to the tow rope, to a position substantially at right angles to the tow rope so that the hook member will come loit of the tow rope the instant that backward pressure is released from the seat member or cable, said hook member including a main body portion that has a `generally rounded surface, an end of said main body portion being enlarged and terminating in a curved lug Y portion, said lug portion being slightly oiiset from the main body portion so that the lug portion is arranged yangularly with respect to said main body portion, there being a shoulder on said hook member, and the tow rope adapted to be engaged and gripped between the lug portion and shoulder on the hook member when the tow seat is being used.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft is rigid. l

3. The structurel as deiined in claim 1 wherein. said shaft is exible., k

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,946 Donder() oer.V 15, 1940 2,473,330 Puricelli .lune 14, 1949 2,677,331 Hauseman May 4, 1954 2,803,486 Larson et al Aug. 20, 1957 3,037,463 Soukup June 5, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 813,911 France Q. Mar. 8, 1937 251,572 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1948 

1. A SKIER''S TOW SEAT FOR USE WITH AN OVERHEAD TOW ROPE, SAID TOW SEAT CONSISTING SOLELY OF A SEAT MEMBER, A SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID SEAT MEMBER, AND SAID SHAFT ADAPTED TO BE EXTENDED BETWEEN THE LEGS OF THE USER, A CABLE EXTENDING FROM SAID SHAFT AND CONNECTED THERETO, SAID CABLE HAVING A PERMANENT KINK THEREIN, A HOOK MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID CABLE FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING THE TOW ROPE, AND WHEREIN THE HOOK MEMBER IS NOT PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE TOW ROPE, THE KINK IN THE CABLE CAUSING THE HOOK MEMBER TO ROTATE AND MOVE FROM A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE TOW ROPE, TO A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE TOW ROPE SO THAT THE HOOK MEMBER WILL COME OFF OF THE TOW ROPE THE INSTANT THAT BACKWARD PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM THE SEAT MEMBER OR CABLE, SAID HOOK MEMBER INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION THAT HAS A GENERALLY ROUNDED SURFACE, AN END OF SAID MAIN BODY PORTION BEING ENLARGED AND TERMINATING IN A CURVED LUG PORTION, SAID LUG PORTION BEING SLIGHTLY OFFSET FROM THE MAIN BODY PORTION SO THAT THE LUG PORTION IS ARRANGED ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID MAIN BODY PORTION, THERE BEING A SHOULDER ON SAID HOOK MEMBER, AND THE TOW ROPE ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED AND GRIPPED BETWEEN THE LUG PORTION AND SHOULDER ON THE HOOK MEMBER WHEN THE TOW SEAT IS BEING USED. 